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THE THREE TDs who make up Fianna Fáil’s financial engine room found themselves having to answer a battery of questions on the party’s poor poll showings this afternoon, as they held a press conference to launch their pre-Budget plan.
There was plenty to talk about on the proposals themselves, first — the opposition party resisted making any massively populist pronouncements, as they unveiled a plan to bring in €361 million in additional taxes as part of a €220 million total adjustment.
But as the press-op began to peter out, attention began to turn the question of their rotten showing in yesterday’s Irish Times poll.
Micheál Martin wasn’t at the announcement because he had never planned to be at the announcement, enquiring journalists were told.
“The party leader has the confidence in his front bench, he doesn’t have to be here with us. We do this every year on our own,” public expenditure spokesman Sean Fleming said.
Micheál is in Roscommon-South Leitrim, where the party are hoping for a by-election win in the contest for ‘Ming’ Flanagan’s old seat, he said.
Calleary, McGrath and Fleming [TheJournal.ie]
Michael McGrath, meanwhile, said this week’s result — which showed support for the party down five per cent to 20 per cent — was just a single poll and they weren’t giving it undue attention.
“The leadership of the party doesn’t hinge on any by-election result,” the finance spokesman added.
Micheál Martin is the leader of the party, he will remain so and has very strong support within the parliamentary party. That is the end of that issue.
Flanking him, Dara Calleary added that the party leader had received an incredibly positive welcome from by-election voters over the past seven weeks or so.
“There is a generally warm reaction. People are happy to see him and they’re out there to welcome him,” the jobs and enterprise spokesperson said.
As the session drew to a close, McGrath again re-iterated that the leadership question was a “non-issue”
We’re focused on the two by-elections today. There are many hours of voting left. We’re calling on people to get out and vote, and we’re hopeful of a good result tomorrow.
Polls in the two by-elections stay open until ten o’clock tonight. You’ll find a full list of candidates in the Dublin contest here, and one for the ‘Ming’ succession race here.
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pity the lad having to count all those people arriving for thousands of years.
We were there on a dreary day in April and the place was rockin. It was very busy with coach tours. I think we paid €12 for the 4 of us. Views are breathtaking. Well worth a visit and not the usual rip off like most places
Ummm I wonder if an irish person was ever really going to be the millionth visitor??
I was there when I was a teen and it was free about 10 years later go again with my wife and I’ve to pay for something that nature created
Does one American still count as two?
Ha ! Ha ! Ha !
Ya alot of sadness associated with those cliffs too, my sister jumped of them as they sun was setting, god rest her.
Oh no…that’s awful, RIP.
That’s grim
How convenient a American won it.ripping people off with parking charges to view a natural wonder
You’re just annoyed that a competitor had more visits than you!
Are you blaming the Americans for parking charges??
Haven’t read the full story. Would sometime be so kind as to post up cliff notes?
I visited the cliff for the first time this year. Can’t believe I waited so long. It was in the evening and we hopped that little fence to get closer to the edge. There was no one there keeping track of visitors, but it’s a lovely time to see them, when the is sun setting.
There was, ya have to buy a ticket to go in. They build a very expensive visitors center there, from what I remember a lot of money went missing and it went way over budget. Another scandal hushed up.
Your revolution is going to be the least fun revolution ever
Cliffs in Kilkeel are just as impressive and u don’t need to pay to park your car
*Kilkee*
Very commercialised now, €6 per person to park the car = €24 for 2 adults 2 children. so we just went down a little side road where you could park the car in a farmers garden for €2 posted through his letterbox.
Stunning scenery, infact Clare in general is amazing :)
Come try the walk along the cliffs from Doolin to the Visitors Centre. Spectacular and nerve tingling at any time of year. http://youtu.be/Anftlby4gSE
There’s a guy that does a guided walk all the way along, knows his stuff and a good guide. Is that you?
I prefer slieve league.
I’d love to visit them. Visited the Giant’s Causeway earlier this year and wasn’t impressed.
Am I the only one who thinks the cliffs are a bit dull?
Coastal causeway road along north antrim coast is much more interesting.
You get a 1,000,000. visitors up there ?!!!
There is a great free Cliffs of Moher audio guide app
Where is the viral video of the event? Surly they want to get some publicity outside of the Irish media…
have your say